Making a come back.

Marse

Returning to training tonight after a 4 year layoff. Absolutely bricking it I’m not the same player I was when I played last.
Just wondering if anyone else made a come back this year and what your experiences where?

blackbelt

I made a comeback last year after a stop-start lay off that went on over a year.Its only this month that I have been back training very regularly though.I hurt tendons in my foot which resulted in me having to drop out of the team.

I was like you except a little less concerned.It was only when I was asked to play for the higher team that I was bricking it as the gap was quite big and the X-mas break would have resulted in lost fitness etc.So I went down and went training with the team and it was widely acknowledged that this is February and that its not the ideal time of year to go full tilt trying to regain full fitness but I felt that I wouldn't be as fit as these guys.

Anyway,my first training session went very well.Concentrated on stretching and excercises before I even kicked a ball.When it came to training it went ok.I was a bit off pace compared to the team but kept up with them without giving up.

I could feel my back in pain and low on breath but kept going doing stretches to ease the pain some more and running it off.Then the pain left my back and was replaced by a tired/more stiff sensation but compared to the pain,I could move around a lot easier and didn't take too much notice of it.

My advice is to keep going as much as you can.Its only then that you regain fitness much quicker.Do your stretches to avoid cramp,muscle pulls etc.You'll probably find that you'll do better than you anticipated.

NB: Sip lots of water during the day and before training.This is imperative if you want to avoid your calf and hamstrings going on you.

Findlater

Ah made one myself a while a go. Was wrecked for the following two days after doing anything, shattered, but gradually it go better. Still do be fairly sore to be honest. The water advice is good there. And if you are with a rag ball outfit where they dont supply water in training, bring out your own bottle. Still glad I go back involved.

Speaking of that, anyone in or around Dublin looking to get back playing with a small club or to do some mid week training. PM me an I ll give anyone details.

ibh

Tonight is the night that i make my comeback. Haven't played a senior/intermediate game in approx 4 and a half years.

I'm dreading it mostly cause the team is not even full of my mates. Suppose it's the joys of club football; you don't choose your team, you just get on with it. It will be good to get back into regular training and if it's going well then hopefully get a good championship out of it. If it doesn't go as planned then at least the fitness will have been improved for free..

kaimera

Good luck with it

I'd love to get back and play but job makes it a bit awkward.

blackbelt

Well,last night was my third week in a row.Usually I would have gone every second week before I made a proper comeback.

I forgot to say that the muscles on the inside of both my feet must have been strained as they are a bit tender as a result of last week but last night I couldn't feel anything when I was training.It goes to show that pain can be disconnected if you concentrate on the excercises,stretching and running and ball-work.

Somebody stood on my toe last night but I kept going despite the pain at first.Then it went away.After training my toe was completely black,blue and red but doesn't seem to hurt.I feel fitter and much healthier after training and it seems to be going really well.Got to get the water on board though.Its not just hydration for the muscles but in general even in February.

Last night wasn't cold at all though.Anyway,looking forward to playing the match at the weekend.One wonders how I can possibly fit in a match,work and Dublin-Cavan in between.

blackbelt

kaimera wrote: »

Good luck with it

I'd love to get back and play but job makes it a bit awkward.

Well Kaimera,as the saying goes,you should make timeif you are serious about it.You work late nights?

Marse

Cheers for all the replies lads, your advice and knowing the fear of returning to something I love is normal made it easier.
Not in a pysical sense mind you, I have now completed three session tonight being my fourth. It’s all been pysical so far just running with a ball(purely for decrative purposes) and It hurts. I’m no where near fit, but I have to say this week I’m feel a little less stiff than I did last week. Step by step, bit by bit.

Even under the cloud of I ednrure during the long sprints( which I find the worst off all, the jogging isn’t too bad) It feels good to be back .

Kaimera, the reason I did’t go back until now was because of my Job, but you just have to do it. Make the time and do it. I travel alot with work so there will be times when I’ll be unavailable for 2 weeks to a month. My thoughts are I’ll just have to deal with it and when I’m here give it 100%.

kaimera

blackbelt wrote: »

Well Kaimera,as the saying goes,you should make timeif you are serious about it.You work late nights?

I don't drive; I do quite a bit of travelling abroad as well with the job and it can be on very short notice.

Added to the fact that my trying to gain some sort of level of fitness has me suffering with thigh strain at best, worst case I tore something.

petethedrummer

I went back to football for 1 year at aged 23 having not played since I was 14. Biggest problems were lacking confidence and not being able to repeatedly sprint. I was naturally faster than most of them in a 1 off sprint. but couldn't repeat over and over till the end of the summer.

The other main problem was they put me on up front at the end of a match and I scored a good goal with my first touch in 9 years. So I always got picked there, despite being a natural defender.

never made senior (due to very large club & my flaky performances) but won 2 Junior medals. might go back this year (I'm 29 now).

Marse

petethedrummer wrote: »

I went back to football for 1 year at aged 23 having not played since I was 14. Biggest problems were lacking confidence and not being able to repeatedly sprint. I was naturally faster than most of them in a 1 off sprint. but couldn't repeat over and over till the end of the summer.

The other main problem was they put me on up front at the end of a match and I scored a good goal with my first touch in 9 years. So I always got picked there, despite being a natural defender.

never made senior (due to very large club & my flaky performances) but won 2 Junior medals. might go back this year (I'm 29 now).

I'm 29 too lad and my best days are behind me, but as I said It's great being back.

CyberDave

Fair play to anybody who has the bottle to go back after that long out of the game. I have been inactive for two years, mainly because I don't live near home anymore. I just wouldn't join any other club. My team was promoted to senior last year, so I missed out on that. It's the physical that gets to me, I love the skills or matches, but the physical just kills me. I never could get used of the transition from underage to senior. I'm still 24 and I don't want to look back and regret it.